[July 16, 2025] Before departure, I wanted to ensure my small team understood the ramifications of going to war and what we would be up against. There would be no going back. This was my speech before battle.
The speech, which lasted only two minutes, was printed in “Our Longest Year in Iraq.”
The day before we flew out of Kuwait, I told them in an impromptu talk:
We are about to meet a proud people.
The country of Iraq has a history that has made a significant contribution to art and science for several millennia. You will find their citizens living with the fact that U.S. forces crushed their military, and their government collapsed.
For much of the last century, Iraq has been controlled by a military dictatorship aligned with Islamic religious fundamentalists. I cannot tell you what they are like, but know this: many will try to hunt us down like dogs to torture and kill us and hang our bodies from the nearest tree.
Others will want to work with us to build a better and freer Iraq. Trust no one. But, show respect to everyone, Iraqi soldier, policeman, citizen, or government official.
Focus on your mission. If you are not ready right here and now to do your duty, or if you believe you will die and fear death, step aside and let someone else take your place.
Tomorrow, we go to Baghdad. What we do is dangerous, but do not be concerned. Keep your weapon and your ammo on your body at all times. Never be without it.
I promised your wives and family that I would bring each of you home alive, and I will. We are in Iraq as liberators of human beings from tyranny. Do not disgrace yourself or your country. Act honorably.
One day you will look back upon this war and know that what you did was right. Iraq will be a free nation, and you are part of what made it so. Remember this; you represent the United States of America. Good luck and Godspeed.
I thought this speech was good enough to reprint, now 21 years later. It has been a long time. Link is below.
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Please read my books:
A great read even for those who have never been in the army. Easy read. A story on every page.
I’m a huge fan of Gen. Satterfield, like so many here. So, I’ll say I loved this “speech” and it might be more because it checks all the required leadership speech boxes. Thank you, Gen. Satterfield for sharing this. 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏
This is one of the great pre-combat speeches, coming in under one minute. It’s not really a “speech” as I look at it but more of a moral-boosting talk with the troops. Rah, Rah, Rah, as the cheerleaders say and here we are with a hybrid cheerleader cheer combined with a traditional (but great) leader speech. This does it all,,, it says why we are there, want to expect of the troops, and what to expect of the enemy. Here is the main idea captured in the last sentences:
“ One day you will look back upon this war and know that what you did was right. Iraq will be a free nation, and you are part of what made it so. Remember this; you represent the United States of America. Good luck and Godspeed.”
Thank you Army Vet.
Exciting Daring Thrilling …. these adjectives can never do the event justice.
🎇🎇🎇🎇🎇Wish I’d have been there. Fantastic. 🎇🎇🎇🎇🎇
Big fan of Gen. Satterfield here!!!!!
Now imagine being ready to board your last flight into a war zone (with some risk of being shot down) and hearing now-General Satterfield give this short talk. Wow wow wow. It is hard to describe what it might have felt like.
Unfortunately, the Woke crowd, the very ones who are triggered by anything approaching a “stress event” will never know the thrill of this adventure, the danger, the excitement and fear combined into something unwritable. What can we do to experience this kind of event? Well, you can’t because it is impossible to recreate it without someone like Gen. Satterfield or some other great leader who can put things into the right perspective.
Gen. S. hits another home run.
WOW ………… 🫡
“One day you will look back upon this war and know that what you did was right. Iraq will be a free nation, and you are part of what made it so. Remember this; you represent the United States of America. Good luck and Godspeed.” — Gen. Doug Satterfield. Well, I’m not so sure that Iraq is a free nation, but they are free of a dictatorship. Is that a good thing? I don’t know. But what I do know is that the tribal nature of Iraq and all Middle Eastern countries is insidious, pervasive, and deep I’m not sure they have the intelligence to overcome this idea that their family is all, and that all outside the family are somehow enemies or neutral and I can screw them over. They have a long way to go.
🇺🇸 If I’d been there, this speech would have raised the hair on the back of my neck. Knowingly going in battle with the full knowledge you may die at any moment. This thought of reality certainly will focus the mind. Well said, Gen. Satterfield. 🇺🇸
the general is kicking ass
That’s our man!!
https://www.amazon.com/Our-Longest-Year-Iraq-Construction/dp/1737915510/
Thanks, Yusaf. I live in Lubbock, Texas, where Gen. Satterfield went to college. Nice town. If you’re ever out that way, drop in.